Fellow Anguillians and in particular the Residents of District # 2 I bring you greetings on this the second anniversary of my political representation as a member of Parliament in the Anguilla House of Assembly.
To quote John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what I can do for my country”.
Friends it would be remiss of me if on the heels of this anniversary I do not say to you that times have been difficult, very difficult economically thus one of the reasons for embracing the late J F K quote previously stated.
As a result I have been working extremely hard behind the scene with my Political Colleagues to get the economic wheels of this our belovedIslandgoing again. This entails the working and signing off of several MOUs during the course of the year for example, Solaire,ZemiBeach, Viceroy, Scrub and Flags. All of these MOUs were dealt with in the interest of trying to get the soil turned to enable food to be placed on the tables of our people and money in your pockets.
I am happy to say here that within a few days we will be reaching to the point of signing another MOU this time for one of our Local Investors for the “Royal Caribbean Resort” Mr. Quincy Gumbs and I am delighted. Mr. Gumbs and his entire family have all been working extremely hard to reach to this point and we in government salute the Gumbs family.
So the path has been laid by this administration for the economic wheels to turn but we cannot force these developers we can only encourage them now that the MOUs are in their hands. We commendZemiBeachfor jumping out of the block and commenced building in theShoalBayeast area. We are happy to say that the long awaited Flag project saga is now over with the advent of a new owner, with $3.6M paid to our local vendors and plans in motion to commence work in a big way in the near future.
Fellow Anguillians your government contrary to opposing views are well behind the scene working day and night to see our beloved island rise again.
Thus I say to you my friends that despite the difficulties and challenges from within and without “God is good and God is good all the time” take heart and be strong.
I need not return to the poor fiscal state in which this administration met the public funds in 2010. I would only wish to say that through prudent management of the public purse we were able with your support at the end of 2011 to achieve a balance fiscal position the first of its kind since 2007, with a surplus in excess of some $15M.
Most of you would have contributed to such a success, through your commitment to paying your taxes on time including the stabilization levy despite the difficult financial challenges. One cannot forget the controversy surrounding the payment of the stabilization levy however, there were not many options given the immediate and drastic action required to stabilize the economy after the gross mismanagement and lack of fiscal responsibility by the previous administration. Although it would have been undesirable at the time and may have been even considered to be painful, the majority recognized the sacrifice to be made and committed themselves, thus again subscribing to the quote of the Late JFK “ ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”.
Let me now draw your attention to Feb 2011-2012 as I refer to it as a year in review as Advisor to the CM in the Ministry of Finance.
Friends this period again granted me a greater opportunity to understand and work closely with the Finance Department.
I was tasked with the responsibility to drive the Tax reform working group, which today continues to work towards making the tax reform structure workable in the interest of the island and its people.
As was pointed out sometime in late 2010, I was assign chairman of the Anguilla Financial Action Task Force (AFATF) with the objective being to look at the regulations that govern our Financial Service Industry. We have been working extremely hard on a weekly basis to ensure thatAnguilla’s reputation remains high in the international arena. This group which comprises some 5 members will continue to work in the best interest ofAnguilla. To this end, the Action Task Force has been able to make some positive strides in achieving some of the objectives that are laid before us.
In April 2011 I had the opportunity as Anguilla’s representative for the Government to conclude an 8 month 4 part workshop sponsored by “ Interreg Caraibes,UniversityofFrench Guyanaand Cagi” centred on bringing the French, Spanish and English speaking Caribbean together to discuss Industry and commerce as well as looking at “The Influence of Emerging Countries in theCaribbean”.
This process entailed three languages being used throughout the varying discussions namely, English, French and Spanish. The English speaking islands that formed part of this experience wereGrenada,St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, Montserrat andAnguilla. The French Countries were St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique andHaitiand the Spanish speaking countries present wereCubaandSanto Domingo.
In July 2011 fellow Anguillians I had the opportunity to accompany the CM and PS Finance to a preparatory meeting of the OTs Heads of Government in Tortola British Virgin Islands (BVI). This meeting was held in preparation for the annual UK OTs meeting usually held in November. Most of the OTs were present at this meeting and significant contributions to the discussions were tabled for theUKmeeting.
In August 2011 the Attorney General and myself travelled toMiamito attend a Ministerial meeting with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) addressing the organization’s MOU. This one day meeting was indeed a productive one and the overall objective was met.
In November 2011, I had the opportunity for the first time to be part of a delegation of 5 to travel to MargaritaVenezuelato attend a CFATF conference which dealt with both members’ issues as well as Ministerial issues as it relates to the wider Caribbean Financial Industry. At this meeting I had the pleasure of attending the Ministerial meeting in the absence of our CM.
During the latter part of 2011 Parliament approved the formation of the very first time in the history of Anguilla a “Public Accounts Committee” (PAC) chaired by the Leader of the Opposition and includes the 2nd Nominated members and myself with guidance from the Attorney General’s Chambers. This committee my friends will work in the best interest of the island addressing areas of national concern and requiring public officers to be more accountable for the management and operations of the public finances.
Ladies and Gentlemen I wish to state at this juncture that the record clearly speaks for itself that I have stretch myself in service to you the people ofAnguilla. I am grateful for your support and understanding through these trying times.
Nationally, I have been hard at work, eventually the fruit from national growth will then and only then trickle into constituencies. What do I mean by this? Simply, once the economic wheels are turning then we can expect to see significant development in our respective constituencies. Very little has been done from that standpoint and it’s not as a result of one not caring but instead about getting over the budgetary challenges in order to make progress.
I say to you my constituency keep hope alive, the hope of a new day when we will all say together “we have overcome, we have overcome”.
In closing I wish to state my disgust at the lawless criminal acts and I speak specifically to the shooting incidents that are confronting us as a people. Innocent persons are being caught in this gun warfare, families are hurting, lives are being disfigured and our island is being labelled in the negative.
I call on all Anguillians to break the silence and let the law take control, the life you save today through you making that report maybe your very own. Let peace and justice prevail, let the work of our forebears serve as a beacon for all to emulate.
I call on you to be your brother’s, your sister’s keeper, for we are all God’s people regardless to colour, creed or race and do not allow the political differences darkened the peace that is within you.
As we continue to forge ahead in this the third year of this administration I asked for your continued prayers, support and guidance. The road ahead is still a difficult one, the obstacles may be great but through God’s grace your government is committed to pulling through with your help.
I Jerome Roberts representative for district #2 remains committed in doing my best through service for my district and the people ofAnguilla.
To the Father of the Nation Mr. James Ronald Webster on the heels of another year I send you advanced Birthday greetings and pray that God will continue to sustain you and your family for many, many more years.
Again thanks for your contribution and the path which you have laid forAnguilla.
Fellow Anguillians May God bless you and may His blessing forever flow overAnguilla.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
